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Woody Harrelson has denounced COVID protocols on film sets during a new interview with The New York Times. The actor is touring the press in support of his new film ‘Champions,’ an independent sports comedy-drama from director Bobby Farrelly backed by Focus Features. Harrelson expressed uncertainty about the future of independent films given “all the COVID protocols” in place, calling those protocols “absurd.”
“What’s Absurd About Covid Protocols?” The New York Times asked Harrelson.
“The fact that they continue! the actor replied. “I don’t think anyone should have the right to demand that you have to do the tests, wear the mask and get vaccinated three years later. I’m just like, let’s get this nonsense over with. It’s not fair to the crews. I don’t need to wear the mask. Why should they? Why should they be vaccinated? How does it not depend on the individual? I shouldn’t talk about this (expletive).
“It makes me angry for the crew,” Harrelson continued. “The anarchist part of me, I don’t think we should have forced testing, forced mask-wearing and forced vaccination. It is not a free country. I’m really talking about the crew. Because I can avoid wearing a mask. I can test less. I’m not in the same position as them, but that’s wrong. It’s three years. Stop.
“As an anarchist, I don’t do well with warrants,” he concluded.
Harrelson’s New York Times interview published shortly before his appearance as host of “Saturday Night Live” on Feb. 25. The actor sparked controversy for his opening monologue, which turned into a polarizing joke about the COVID conspiracy. Harrelson spent the majority of his monologue touting the “craziest script” he had ever read.
“So the movie goes like this,” Harrelson explained at the climax of the monologue. “The biggest drug cartels in the world are coming together and buying out all the media and all the politicians and forcing all the people in the world to stay locked up in their homes. And people can only get out if they take the cartel drugs and keep taking them over and over again.
“I threw out the script,” added Harrelson. “I mean, who was going to believe that crazy idea?” Being forced to take drugs? I do it on purpose all day.
It’s not hard to see Harrelson making a comment about COVID vaccine mandates, which he more directly opposed in his New York Times interview. The actor’s latest film, “Champions,” hits theaters March 10.